THE season ended for Cowdenbeath and Albion Rovers in a very open game which produced many chances for both sides at Central Park on Tuesday night.

Cowden left it late to get the second goal but it gave them the three points their performance was worthy of.

It was a win built on resourceful defending with Cowden having outstanding contributors in goalkeeper Nicky Hogarth, full-backs Ryan Finnie and Fraser Mullen, and centre-backs Jamie Pyper and Jamie Todd.

The midfield, with skipper Craig Barr at the centre of it, were creating a lot of openings with Robbie Buchanan and Harvey Swann in the wide areas posing real problems for Rovers and Gavin Morrison passing well.

Kris Renton led the line with support from Kyle Miller, who was playing his 300th game for the club.

Manager Gary Bollan was delighted with the evening’s work from his men: “It was great to get the first goal early in the game and with the show throughout the 90 minutes I felt we were worth the two goal margin.”

Cowdenbeath dominated the early play but the stuffy Rovers defending kept the home side down to one shot in seven minutes when Finnie took Morrison’s pass but his 20 yarder just cleared the Albion bar.

In 10 minutes Rovers responded with a neat move which ended with Kieran Dolan firing in a low shot which Pyper blocked.

Then in 12 minutes the Blue Brazil took the lead. Mullen sent over a fine cross from the right and Miller celebrated his 300th appearance by nipping in front of Lewis Wilson to power a seven yard header past Chris Henry.

But Albion responded and two minutes after the goal Kyle Doherty brought out a fine save from Hogarth with an angled 20 yard drive.

Ten minutes from the break only sharp work prevented a Cowden own goal when Finnie sent a pass-back wide of Hogarth but Todd ran behind his ‘keeper to boot the loose ball off the line.

Seconds before the interval Renton’s flick sent Buchanan racing into the Albion box and Henry made a fine save from the winger’s low nine yard shot.

Cowden came close in 49 minutes when Hogarth’s kick-out was gathered by Renton who streaked towards the Rovers’ end and unleashed a fierce 25 yarder which came down off the underside of the bar but the ball stayed out.

However, six minutes later Hogarth made a fine finger-tip save from a curling 20 yard shot from Callum Wilson, then in 63 minutes Finney ran on to a Miller pass and let fly from 20 yards and the ball was just inches wide with Henry struggling.

Rovers had an amazing escape soon after when first Renton and then Miller were denied by brave goalkeeping by Henry, all inside his six yard box.

Albion kept plugging away and with three minutes left Hogarth made another good stop, this time from Kyle Doherty’s 12 yard effort but the key second goal came in time added on when veteran Cowden striker Iain Russell was pulled down inside the Rovers box and he made an expert job of the spot-kick, as he called time on his professional career.

Cowdenbeath: Nicky Hogarth (7), Fraser Mullen (7), Ryan Finnie (7), Jamie Todd (8), Craig Barr (7) (Jacob Glass 82 (3)), Jamie Pyper (7) (Mikey Herd 46 6)), Robbie Buchanan (7), Gavin Morrison (7)(Zander Miller 70 (3))) Kris, Renton (Iain Russell 82 (3)), Kyle Miller (7), Harvey Swann (7). Subs not used, Graham Taylor, Ross Pollock, Olly Hamilton, Lennon Watson and Mac Whyte (gk).

Albion Rovers: Henry (7), Fagan (6), Sidesdorf (7), L Wilson (5) (Ecrepont 42 (6)), McGowan (7), Leslie (6), C Wilson (7), Doherty (6)), Dolan (7) (NDa Koume 86 (2)), Aitken, Baker (6)(Moran 75 (3). Subs not used, Smith (gk).

Referee-Alan Newlands (7).